Legal Business

Andrew Garner – Associated British Ports

Andrew Garner

General counsel

Associated British Ports

 

Andrew Garner heads the legal division of Britain’s largest port operator. He was appointed in 2005, and successfully navigated Associated British Ports through a multibillion-pound takeover in 2006 by a consortium of private investors, which included Goldman Sachs and Prudential.

ABP may have 21 ports around the UK but Garner has no formal legal panel; up to 23 firms are called upon when needed. These are split into two camps: some regionally-based and close to ports, and others that do more centralised work. Annual external legal spend is generally between £1m and £3m but this varies from year to year and depends on whether ABP is involved in major development projects or heavy litigation.


 

Law firms used: Addleshaw Goddard, Andrew Jackson, Bond Dickinson, Eversheds, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Geldards, Hill Dickinson, Macfarlanes, Osborne Clarke, Simmons & Simmons, Slaughter and May, Winckworth Sherwood, Wragge & Co 

2005–present: General counsel, Associated British Ports

2001–05: General counsel corporate, First Choice Holidays

1997–2001: General counsel, Unigate